Theory of Colours, Volume II

The circle which humanity is destined to run is determined enough, and despite the great standstill caused by barbarism, it has already completed its course more than once. Even if one wishes to attribute a spiral motion to it, it nevertheless returns again and again to that region through which it has already passed. On this path, all true insights and all errors repeat themselves.

In order to inform oneself about the Theory of Colors German: "Farbenlehre"; Goethe's holistic approach to how we perceive color, contrasting with purely mathematical optics., one had to at least traverse the entire history of Natural Science German: "Naturlehre"; at this time, the term encompassed physics and the general study of the laws of nature., and not leave the history of philosophy out of consideration. A concise presentation would have been desirable; but under the given circumstances, it was not achievable. We therefore had to resolve to provide only materials for the history of the theory of colors, and to sift through, to some extent, that which had accumulated with us for this purpose.

What we understand by that expression will not be difficult to interpret. Whoever provides materials for a building always brings more and less than is required. For, from that which has been brought together, much must often be taken away,